Dr Peter Phillips yesterday stopped just short of describing his bid for the presidency of the People's National Party (PNP) as a self-sacrificing act he was willing to make in order to save not just the party but the country.

Speaking to the nation in a live radio and television broadcast, Phillips said the gains made by previous PNP administrations were being eroded and that Jamaica was being led into a state of socio-economic crisis.

"Now more than ever, we need a strong, united PNP that can bring together the people of our country to develop the solutions we so clearly need as we face the new challenges of the 21st century," he said. "We have no time to lose."

Right thing

He said that, based on the current condition of the PNP and the nation, he thought long and hard about his decision to challenge party President Portia Simpson Miller for leadership and found that it was the right thing to do.

In his broadcast last evening, Phillips further sought to provide a number of achievements he said were testament to his ability to change the present course of Jamaica's politics, while continuing the party's commitment to improve the lives of the poor.

Among those he listed were Operation Kingfish, MIDA, Greater Portmore Development Project and the Jamaica Urban Transit Company.

However, Simpson Miller sup-porter Colin Campbell said that, to the best of his knowledge, Phillips never initiated any of those projects.